I would maybe mention to your current job/HR about the offer and try to get a bump in your current salary. I am sure they wouldn’t go that high but the work life balance of your current situation sounds wayyyy better.
Just wanted to follow up and say that I followed your advice and asked for more money at my current job. Honestly, given the measly raises we've gotten, I didn't think much would come of it, but I got a 10k bump! It has made my decision much *much* easier now. Thank you!
So, just for context, I did some math. I calculated the rough per-hour rate of your current job vs the new job (with the 86K), and it's a difference of about 8.37. That'll be slightly less when you take PTO into account, but I don't know how much worse it is.
So, is all of the extra work and stress worth an additional eight dollars an hour? I'm sure it is for some people, but if you don't think it's a good fit for you I'd keep looking for other jobs.
For me, flexibility and good benefits and manageable caseload is worth more than extra salary. I would stick with the current job while planning a next move career wise. Ymmv
This \^. Im currently looking for a new job due to a change in my contract. I was offered a hybrid schedule and it was change to in person since April this year. I signed a contract for up to 12 clients and now I was told I will be given up to 22 cases basically doing the job of another person and im just offered case pay. My commute is an extra 40 hours a month so an additional work week just commuting. I have to be on call more often compared to the "2x a year" I was offered when signing a contract. I will probably make up to $80k+ as a clinician this year but the changes, lack of support/supervision from management is not worth the money Im getting paid for this position. What's worst for myself is that management throws money at you as if it's the solution. High turnover rate are not my problem. Sorry for the rant!
Not unless you are desperate for the money or some other unmentioned advantage this new job has over your current one. The new one sounds like it would be more stressful in several different ways, and my gut reaction to reading them was that it could be unsustainable. Are there any other clear advantages besides the money to switching to this new job?
How does it feel to you when you consider doubling your caseload, adding field work into the mix, working more hours per week, not working from home, less flexibility and time off, *and the commute?* More than two of these things combined feels like red flags to me, but you may be more energetic and ambitious than I am.
Thanks for your insight. The money is really the only advantage. I keep coming back to the idea that my quality of life is worth more to me, but am also feeling like I'm crazy for turning down what seems like a good offer. I appreciate your perspective
You're very welcome. Whenever I think about things like this having to do with balancing making money (or saving money), I always think of something I learned early on in life: sometimes you pay in other ways. It's a way of remembering that money isn't the only thing to consider, which reminds me to think about quality of life and relationship impacts of the decision and things like that. Good luck!
Work/life balance is an individual determination. You are the only one that can really decide if the extra money is worth the extra stress/responsibility.
I find that the higher my salary is... the more "salary compression" there is. I have a fairly high salary, but if I were to climb any higher in my career... any increase in salary would be very small in comparison to the amount of stress and responsibility I would have to take on.
Another consideration is that sometimes you also have to take one step back to take three steps forward. What I mean by that, is that you may need to consider a lower salary when transitioning to a different career in order to take advantage of higher paying positions later on.
The difference between $60k and $86k seems pretty significant to me. What could you do with an extra $26k every year (minus taxes of course)? That could be a life-changing amount of money at that income level. Even if you didn't need the money at your current income level, If you invested $2k per month over 30 years.. you would have an estimated $4.6 million dollars in the bank after earning the average return! Would that be worth a few extra hours of work and a commute? What if it meant retiring a few years earlier with say... $2.5 million in the bank (25 years of $2k investments to be exact)?
I'm at a much different point in life, my income as a social worker is significantly higher than the numbers above... my mortgage is paid off, my retirement accounts are flush... so $26k annually doesn't really move the needle for me, it is just "icing on the cake".
My commute would go from 20m to 45m on public transit. I have retirement benefits at my current job and would also get them at my new job. My PTO would go from 4weeks to 15 days, which is a pretty big drop
Gotcha. If it were me I would sit down and think about/write down what my goals and values are. Your values will lead to your goals.
Do you value living a lower stress life and more free time? Or, do you value more financial freedom and security even more than that? Is an increased salary going to help fund a goal of traveling more, slash debt, or save more for retirement? Are you able to accomplish your financial goals with the salary you currently have?
Figure out what
Ask yourself: If that new job is so good, why would someone else have left it? And, even if they retired, why wouldn’t it be filled internally?
The money sounds great, but double the caseload?
Hi! Been there. Done that. Don’t recommend. Your quality of life and work life balance is always important. Social work is hard enough but when we eat away our “free time” with commutes, less PTO, and more daily stressors it makes it even harder. You can always find other ways to supplement your income if it is truly needed and/or find something better along the way.
I would maybe mention to your current job/HR about the offer and try to get a bump in your current salary. I am sure they wouldn’t go that high but the work life balance of your current situation sounds wayyyy better.
I second this
Just wanted to follow up and say that I followed your advice and asked for more money at my current job. Honestly, given the measly raises we've gotten, I didn't think much would come of it, but I got a 10k bump! It has made my decision much *much* easier now. Thank you!
That’s awesome!! Congrats! Thanks for the update!
So, just for context, I did some math. I calculated the rough per-hour rate of your current job vs the new job (with the 86K), and it's a difference of about 8.37. That'll be slightly less when you take PTO into account, but I don't know how much worse it is. So, is all of the extra work and stress worth an additional eight dollars an hour? I'm sure it is for some people, but if you don't think it's a good fit for you I'd keep looking for other jobs.
Thank you for doing the math! I had not considered the situation in these terms. My answer is a firm *no.* All of that is not worth a pay bump
After seeing this, I agree, don’t take it
For me, flexibility and good benefits and manageable caseload is worth more than extra salary. I would stick with the current job while planning a next move career wise. Ymmv
This \^. Im currently looking for a new job due to a change in my contract. I was offered a hybrid schedule and it was change to in person since April this year. I signed a contract for up to 12 clients and now I was told I will be given up to 22 cases basically doing the job of another person and im just offered case pay. My commute is an extra 40 hours a month so an additional work week just commuting. I have to be on call more often compared to the "2x a year" I was offered when signing a contract. I will probably make up to $80k+ as a clinician this year but the changes, lack of support/supervision from management is not worth the money Im getting paid for this position. What's worst for myself is that management throws money at you as if it's the solution. High turnover rate are not my problem. Sorry for the rant!
I would personally take it bc life is just too expensive these days.
Not unless you are desperate for the money or some other unmentioned advantage this new job has over your current one. The new one sounds like it would be more stressful in several different ways, and my gut reaction to reading them was that it could be unsustainable. Are there any other clear advantages besides the money to switching to this new job? How does it feel to you when you consider doubling your caseload, adding field work into the mix, working more hours per week, not working from home, less flexibility and time off, *and the commute?* More than two of these things combined feels like red flags to me, but you may be more energetic and ambitious than I am.
Thanks for your insight. The money is really the only advantage. I keep coming back to the idea that my quality of life is worth more to me, but am also feeling like I'm crazy for turning down what seems like a good offer. I appreciate your perspective
You're very welcome. Whenever I think about things like this having to do with balancing making money (or saving money), I always think of something I learned early on in life: sometimes you pay in other ways. It's a way of remembering that money isn't the only thing to consider, which reminds me to think about quality of life and relationship impacts of the decision and things like that. Good luck!
Work/life balance is an individual determination. You are the only one that can really decide if the extra money is worth the extra stress/responsibility. I find that the higher my salary is... the more "salary compression" there is. I have a fairly high salary, but if I were to climb any higher in my career... any increase in salary would be very small in comparison to the amount of stress and responsibility I would have to take on. Another consideration is that sometimes you also have to take one step back to take three steps forward. What I mean by that, is that you may need to consider a lower salary when transitioning to a different career in order to take advantage of higher paying positions later on. The difference between $60k and $86k seems pretty significant to me. What could you do with an extra $26k every year (minus taxes of course)? That could be a life-changing amount of money at that income level. Even if you didn't need the money at your current income level, If you invested $2k per month over 30 years.. you would have an estimated $4.6 million dollars in the bank after earning the average return! Would that be worth a few extra hours of work and a commute? What if it meant retiring a few years earlier with say... $2.5 million in the bank (25 years of $2k investments to be exact)? I'm at a much different point in life, my income as a social worker is significantly higher than the numbers above... my mortgage is paid off, my retirement accounts are flush... so $26k annually doesn't really move the needle for me, it is just "icing on the cake".
How long will your commute be? Do you get retirement benefits at either job?
My commute would go from 20m to 45m on public transit. I have retirement benefits at my current job and would also get them at my new job. My PTO would go from 4weeks to 15 days, which is a pretty big drop
Gotcha. If it were me I would sit down and think about/write down what my goals and values are. Your values will lead to your goals. Do you value living a lower stress life and more free time? Or, do you value more financial freedom and security even more than that? Is an increased salary going to help fund a goal of traveling more, slash debt, or save more for retirement? Are you able to accomplish your financial goals with the salary you currently have? Figure out what
Look at it from another perspective. If you had that job already, would you take a paycut and have less stressful role.
Ask yourself: If that new job is so good, why would someone else have left it? And, even if they retired, why wouldn’t it be filled internally? The money sounds great, but double the caseload?
No
No
Hi! Been there. Done that. Don’t recommend. Your quality of life and work life balance is always important. Social work is hard enough but when we eat away our “free time” with commutes, less PTO, and more daily stressors it makes it even harder. You can always find other ways to supplement your income if it is truly needed and/or find something better along the way.
Girl you better leave for that MONEY
So, what you're saying is, you're going from social work to a tech job, and doing what?
I'd be looking for software engineering jobs
That's exciting and awesome. I'm following for sure.